Football: Stigler's Sandlin Makes Seamless Transition

Football: Stigler&rsquo;s Sandlin Makes Seamless Transition

Ordinarily, it’s not easy for a player to leave a position where he is successful and replace a star player.

For Stigler, however, the transition has been seamless because of someone already familiar with the offense.

Seth Sandlin, a senior who had played tailback since joining the varsity squad, took over the quarterback duties after the graduation of Cade Shearwood — the two-time Times Record Oklahoma Offensive Player of the Year — and has put up phenomenal numbers of his own.

Sandlin has thrown for 2,047 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 1,250 yards and 20 TDs. In last week’s 55-7 win against Idabel in the Panthers’ regular-season finale, Sandlin rushed for 173 yards and five TDs while passing for 153 yards and another TD — all by halftime.

Entering the playoffs, Stigler (8-2, 6-1 3A-8) has won its past six games. During the streak, Sandlin has rushed for a total of 15 TDs and thrown for 13 TDs. But even with the impressive numbers he has accumulated during the season, Sandlin is quick to give all the credit to his teammates.

“The numbers might look good, but all the yards I had, it was because of the guys up front and the skill players to help me out,” Sandlin said. “I do the easy part, I throw the ball and the receivers catch it and I just get whatever yards they rack up, I might throw a hitch and they would go for 80 (yards). It’s really not all me, a lot of the guys, they make the big plays from what they do and I get those numbers but they’re still the ones making those plays.

“Also, my offensive line in our run game has made it so easy and Trace Jackson, our running back, is a threat out there and you’ve got to watch both of us so if you take your eyes off me for a second, I might be already past you because they’re looking at Trace.”

That was evident in last week’s game as Sandlin said Idabel defenders were mainly focusing on Jackson.

“Up front, we protected really well and I thought they tried to shut Trace down a little bit,” Sandlin said. “Every time he would run it, there would be a couple of linebackers keying on him pretty early and our skill guys really blocked the perimeter really well so i was able to get outside because that’s where I’m at my best, at the outside on the run.”

While Sandlin has put up impressive numbers, Stigler coach Chris Risenhoover said the scary thing about Sandlin is he can easily have more yards and TDs.

“With all his physical abilities, it wouldn’t have surprised me if he was a 2,000 (passing)/2,000 (rushing) guy and that’s rare and we’re not in a fast-paced hurry-up offense so we don’t get a tremendous amount of stats but if he was in that type of offense, he probably could get it,” Risenhoover said.

“He’s got a great combination of strength and speed and has done a good job throwing the football and is extremely accurate, he makes all the throws that we need a quarterback on the high school field to make. He’s just done a great job of leading our football team this year. He’s really been patient with some young offensive linemen and on that side for leadership, he’s been perfect for what this football team needed. He’s also got a good supporting cast of receivers that’s got some experience and that’s been a big help.”

The Panthers, who made the 3A quarterfinals last season, open the playoffs at home this Friday against Lincoln Christian. Risenhoover said he is hoping Sandlin keeps doing what he has been doing so Stigler can make another strong postseason run.

“Just more of the same, just continue to play within himself,” Risenhoover said. “People know that he’s our bellcow and they’re all going to have their eyes on him. But like I said, he’s got a good supporting cast of receivers and Trace Jackson in the backfield is also dangerous with the ball in his hands so if they do try to take Seth away, we’ve got the ballcarriers and receivers that can be effective.”